Permeable Pavers & Bioswales

Permeable Pavers & Bioswale Case Study

By: Lucas Shubert

                

Sponsor

Bristol and England Properties

Location

Bristol Business Park, Bristol, United Kingdom

Brief Description

According to the National Archive, Bristol Business Park, in Bristol, UK, employs several sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) - two of which are permeable pavers (Figure 1) and pavement. SUDS on the site are a detention pond (Figure 2) and a bioswale (Figure 3) between the parking area and the buildings (CABE 2011). The permeable pavers are a product called Hasen Formpave, manufactured in the UK (CABE 2011). This system comes with it’s a proprietary mesh between the different sized gravels, which makes cleaning and maintenance easier - a priority for a successful permeable pavement (CABE 2011).

Landscape Performance Benefits

· Environmental Since this is a man-made hardscape, it's environmental aspects are chiefly related to its function. It does help preserve the life of adjacent plants that might otherwise receive too much storm water.

· Aesthetic These pavers have the appealing look that has been popular for hundreds of years.

· Functional Since runoff into the detention pond during heavy rain periods has been mininal since its installation, it must be functioning as expected.

· Social Paved spaces are usually ideal for outdoor gatherings in a formal setting.

· Educational It can provide data pertaining to watershed reduction related to hardscape area.

· Economical Installation is more expensive than traditional sanded or mortared pavers, due to the trench that must be created beneath it.

· Psychological During heavy rain it removes an obstacle of deep standing puddles or fast moving watersheds within the site.

Project Evaluation

This project has performed as intended over the last few years that the campus has been in operation. Its success is a direct result of the appropriate initial planning by the developers of the business park. Their choice to reduce storm water drainage has undoubtedly saved them money by reducing maintenance costs.

Reference (Chicago Manual of Style)

CABE. 2011. “Bristol Business Park.” Accessed February 15, 2013.

webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110118095356/http://www.cabe.org.uk/case-studies/bristol-businesspark?photos=true&viewing=6151

PUT THESE UNDER THE FIGURES

Figure 1. These pavers are permeable because

the spaces between the pavers are filled with

loose aggregate (CABE 2011).

Figure 2. This is the detention pond found on

the site, which collects water from both the

bioswale and various other sources on the site

(CABE 2011).

Figure 3. This is the bioswale, which catches

runoff of excess storm water from the

permeable pavers and pavement in the parking

area (CABE 2011).